Chapter 50

In the evening, Xu Hao accompanied Hongye in a game of guessing melon seeds, intentionally losing a few rounds to cheer up his younger sister. Xu Qinglian and Xiao Yushi sat on the side, whispering to each other and occasionally bursting into laughter.

Hongye, tilting her head, thought about what she could win and clapped her hands, saying, "Yesterday, Lüzhu picked a few plum branches and placed them in Grandmother's room. Grandmother said they were beautiful, and I want some too."

"Alright, I'll get them for you." It was a small matter, and Xu Hao, full of confidence, patted his chest and readily agreed.

Hongye looked at her sister with delight and nodded her head toward the other side, whispering, "Ever since Cousin came, Elder Sister has someone to keep her company, and she's less focused on cultivation. She doesn't even mention the Buddhist hall anymore. It's really good."

"Yes, it's really good." Xu Hao felt a bit sentimental, not expecting that his act of righteousness would have such a positive outcome. It seemed that in the future, he should help when he could, even if there was no reward, just for peace of mind.

As they were talking, Chunyue came up the stairs gracefully and said, "Madam sent word that she's a bit tired from managing household affairs today and doesn't need to come for dinner. She also said it's cold, so be sure to stay warm and avoid catching a cold. Remember to keep an eye on the charcoal at night and open a few windows for ventilation. The Old Lady is in a bad mood, so be careful what you say when you pay your respects."

"Yes." Xu Qinglian stood and listened until Chunyue finished, then smiled and asked Xiao Yushi, "By coincidence, Yulan came over earlier and said we don't need to pay respects to Grandmother for a few days. We can cook for ourselves. What would you like to try?"

Xiao Yushi shook her head gently and whispered, "Anything is fine; I've never been picky about food."

Xu Qinglian knew her cousin was used to living by others' moods, always being cautious and never expressing her true feelings. Feeling a bit sad, she took her cousin's small hand, wrapped in white cotton, and said with a smile, "Last night, when Hao mentioned the 'Stone Record,' those young ladies held a poetry society in the snow, admiring plum blossoms and eating venison. I saw you were eager to try it. How about we have venison too?"

Xiao Yushi's eyes lit up, and she nodded with a smile. Xu Qinglian smiled in satisfaction and turned to Hongye, "Did you win?"

Hongye said proudly, "Brother is so clumsy, of course I won!"

Xu Hao immediately smiled bitterly, thinking that good deeds often go unrewarded. It's best to remain anonymous when doing good, so people don't forget to be grateful.

Seeing the smile on his elder sister's face, Xu Hao quickly said, "Hongye has already asked me to get the plum blossoms, which will settle the bet. What do you want, Sister? But if it's too difficult, I won't do it."

"Cheapskate." Xu Qinglian scolded with a smile, "I remember you said you brought back some fresh venison from the capital to nourish the elders. Go get a piece for us to try."

"That's easy." Xu Hao stood up and laughed, "You're thinking of roasting the venison, right? Actually, it's not that good. Beef and mutton are the best. Now that you mention it, I'm craving it too. Wait for me, and we'll have a barbecue tonight."

In ancient times, cattle were important for farming and were not allowed to be slaughtered for food. However, this didn't stop wealthy families. If a cow died accidentally, they would just pay a fine. As long as the cow didn't die from disease or plague, the authorities wouldn't bury it.

So, they would cut the cow into pieces, share some with relatives and friends, and in a few days, when a relative's cow died, they would get more delicious beef.

But beef was still a rare delicacy, and only the very wealthy could afford it regularly. As for the idea of starting a cattle farm to get rich, it was impractical. Even if you raised many cows, you wouldn't have enough for farming.

Hongye, being a glutton, said excitedly, "Brother, I'll go with you."

Xu Hao teased her, "Do you dare to watch the meat being cut? If you do, I'll take you."

"I've seen it before, don't underestimate me." Hongye retorted.

Xiao Yushi watched the affectionate bickering between the brother and sister, feeling envious. She didn't know if the Xu family planned to keep her for long. Thinking about returning to her cold and gloomy home in a few days, her mood sank.

Xu Qinglian, always attentive to her cousin, saw her face darken and guessed what she was thinking. She hugged her shoulder and sighed, "It's pitiful that you can't return home. Mother said she will keep you for at least three to five years and has already informed the Xiao family."

"Really?" Xiao Yushi was moved, feeling the kindness of her aunt. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she sat there, on the verge of crying.

Xu Hao, feeling a bit uncomfortable, his lips twitched. This was another consequence of doing good deeds anonymously. Sigh!

He couldn't bear to see girls cry, so he gave Hongye a look, and the two of them quietly went downstairs, leaving his elder sister to comfort her.

Barbecue is a popular street food in modern times, loved by many. It's cheap, satisfying, and free from formalities, though it can be a bit disruptive.

Those who love barbecue know that after a while without it, they crave it. The smell of grilled meat is especially tempting, making you want to indulge.

However, it's worth noting that barbecue isn't very hygienic. Be mindful of the source of the meat and try not to eat it too often, as it's not good for your health.

Xu Hao and Hongye ran to the main kitchen, asking the cook to cut a large piece of frozen venison and a large piece of frozen beef stored from the previous year. Fortunately, there was fresh mutton and pork, so they picked the tenderest parts, about ten to twenty pounds, and asked the cook to slice them thinly and marinate them with yellow wine and various seasonings.

Just then, a gift from a colleague of Uncle Three arrived from Shandong. Xu Hao promptly took a dozen large shrimp and thought about having some fish grilled as well. He also asked the cook to prepare a few vegetable dishes and a pot of rice from the north, along with a small jar of high-quality daughter red wine.

As the eldest son, and with Xiao Shi now in charge of the household, the cooks and managers were eager to please Xu Hao, smiling and agreeing readily.

Hongye curiously looked at the red gift list and said, "There are tangerines and Dunhuang melons. Oh, and candied lychees, which are rare. Brother, I want to try them."

"The Dunhuang melons are probably Hami melons, and the lychees are pickled?" Xu Hao guessed, turning to ask, "Do you have any extra? We'd like some."

The manageress smiled, "Although there's not much, since Hao has asked, we can certainly provide some. But remember not to mention this to the Old Lady. She's old and has a childlike temperament and is picky about food. These lychees and Dunhuang melons are rare, and if she gets a taste for them, it will be hard to find them even if we run ourselves ragged."

Xu Hao nodded in understanding but said, "From now on, all the good things should be sent to the Old Lady first. Don't think you're being smart. The Old Lady knows everything. If she insists, we can buy them from all over the capital. If you can't find them, come to me."

The manageress looked troubled, "But—"

Xu Hao's face turned serious, and he said firmly, "This is filial piety. If you obstruct it, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The manageress was startled and quickly said, "I was just speaking up for the servants. They work hard in the heat and cold. Since Third Master has spoken, we will send the good things to the Old Lady first."

"That's how it should be." Xu Hao smiled in satisfaction, took Hongye's hand, and turned to leave. After a few steps, he seemed to think of something, "Mother is probably worried that someone in the Old Lady's room will demand things, causing the servants to complain and making it difficult for her to mediate."

The manageress smiled bitterly, and the cooks began to complain. The Old Lady's attendants often came to ask for treats, which were hard to find and expensive. The servants didn't like running errands and demanded tips. If they couldn't get the items, they would be scolded, and the ladies would blame them for overspending. They often offended people and did all the work without any appreciation.

After listening to their complaints, Xu Hao said coldly, "Don't indulge those bad habits. If anyone comes, tell them it's my rule. If they want treats, they should pay for them themselves. From now on, we will only satisfy the Old Lady and the three ladies' requests. Others can eat if they have it, or find their own way if they don't."

"With Third Master's words, we can finally have peace." The manageress was overjoyed.

Xu Hao, however, was not so optimistic. He shook his head, "Don't be too happy. When the others return, if they ask for something, using me as an excuse won't work. People are clever and will find ways to get what they want, and they will ask the masters to intervene."

The manageress laughed lightly, "If they have the skills to persuade the masters, we will work harder. There are only a few pretty girls and old ladies who can do it. Others can only occasionally persuade them once or twice. It's such a trivial matter, and I would be embarrassed for them if they asked too much. The masters would be annoyed, and they would lose face."

"You're right." Xu Hao thought that household affairs were indeed frustrating. He was too straightforward and needed more patience, wisdom, and tact to handle everything well.

Fortunately, the women enjoyed dealing with these matters, which was a headache to think about. No wonder emperors often handled palace affairs simply and harshly, as they were indeed troublesome.